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"I don't like it when you called his name in such pain, Ib. Seeing you in such pain, desperately calling his name—the name of someone who never come, just makes me hurt too," Ourie said with a serious tone, his eyes directly looked on hers.
"Wh...!"
Before Ib could say anything, Ourie hugged her tightly.
"I don't like saying something bad about other people. But remember Ib, it's just only me who you can depend on in this place. So please, stop calling his name with such pain like that. I'm here and I'll protect you whatever it takes."
oooooo
But suddenly she stopped her pace. And even the voice kept buzzing on her ears, she felt like she was deaf after the scene suddenly changed.
The sky suddenly showed the beautiful hue of twilight. Under the big tree, about thirty meters before her, with such beautiful background of twilight sky, Garry hugged Haruna tightly.
There was a serene smile on his face.
She then remembered everything. The reason of why she decided to not let him know about all of this "new game".
It was because she didn't have a heart to get rid his serene smile. He was everything for her, and she didn't want to lose him or his smile...
...It was because she loved him dearly.
ooooooo
"Hand this, Ib," the groom gave her a little box. When she opened it, she raised an eyebrow.
"I'm sure about the emerald gem, but aren't these yours?" Ib asked, pointing at the pair of silver rings. The bride and groom looked at each other, then sent her a worry look.
"Just in case... keep it save, Ib," the groom said in serious tone.
oooooooo
"Hold on, dear. As my gratitude for you, please keep this."
On the knob, it was an aster.
"Keep it safe, Ib. It'll come in handy, I think," it grinned again. Ib smiled sincerely.
"Thank you."
ooooooooo
"Ib, are you okay? Where were you?"
"Just... another little game. Come on Ourie, I'd just spent too much hour on this floor," Ib grimaced, glancing to her wristwatch.
It was already 6 p.m.
The Game is (Not) Over
an Ib fanfiction by Mizumori Fumaira
Disclaimer : Ib©Kouri
Chapter #8 : Game 5—Aquamarine
Ourie walked quick, stepping the stairs in a fast pace. Ib on his back, tried to catch him up even though she felt like she was going to collapse and die because her lung lack of oxygen.
"Ah, there's door, finally!" Ourie shouted. Then, he turned around to see Ib a little far from his position. Guilt came to his face, he went down several steps to Ib.
"I'm sorry, Ib. It's just…" Ourie' smiled apologetically, but there was something more, "I felt my sister was somewhere behind that door."
"It's okay," Ib responded, "I hope we really can meet your sister as soon as possible…"
"And get back your rose, too," Ourie grinned, putting his hand out to Ib, "Take my hand so we can't be separated again."
His smile made Ib' heartbeat became a little faster. She smiled, taking Ourie' hand and walked hand-in-hand with him. Ourie' hand was bigger than her, but somewhat was colder than her hand.
"I like your hand, Ib," Ourie smiled, "So soft and warm…"
Hand in hand. Didn't know how to respond his words, she suddenly remembered about Garry. Ib hardly forget about his hand. Seven years ago, he could grip her entire hand with his cool, slightly rough hand. Ourie' hand was colder than Garry', and even rougher. She wondered what kind of work that could make somebody' hand like that, maybe a hard and difficult one since Ourie should pay all his and his sister needs.
Maybe after all of this over, she could help him a bit, Ib thought.
They paused before the door. It was locked.
Once again, Ib gripped the door' handle. It was still locked, but then something appeared on the door. A painting of a clown, Juggling.
"Remember me?"
Below the painting there was a number pad with four digit combination. But that's not only it, there was also an alphabet pad, also four digit combination.
"Ah, is it asking for its creation year?" Ourie asked.
"It seems so," Ib answered, her hands trying to make the number combination became 6223. "But I'm not sure about the other one."
"Hmm…" Ourie pointed at the balls which being juggled by the clown, "number of the ball, perhaps?"
In the world of Guertena, guessing was a taboo thing. Ib didn't have much time, in the other hand, her rose petals was a quarter amount from its original amount. If she didn't let her jealousy taking her over before, by accepting the red petunia, of course she wouldn't lose so much petals. Ib herself just realized that her rose petals' amount was decreasing after she left the green room.
"Hmmm… this painting make me dizzy… the ball keep moving… ichi, ni, …, nana!"
"Wait, Ourie!"
Late. Ib felt like her chest was struck by a large force, throbbing so badly. Not only that, she also felt like her stomach was kicked so harshly.
"Ugh…!"
Ib fell at her knee, then noticed that her rose petals was only seven left, clinging desperately on its stalk.
"Whoa, Ib, are you… hack! Ugh!"
Forgetting her pain, Ib quickly caught Ourie' body before it was crushed to the ground. Placing his head on her lap, she examined him quickly, making sure if there was a wound or what so she could treat him.
"Ourie, hold on!" Ib squeaked, trying to push away her pain but it was hardly bearable. "Where do you feel it hurts the most?"
"So… Sorry, Ib…" He smiled weakly, "I don't…know, but… I… can't…breathe…"
With the unbearable pain, Ib searched for a little oxygen tin tube from her backpack. With a little effort she had, she quickly arranged the inhaler device to the tube. But, before she managed to help Ourie with the tube, she couldn't bear it any longer, slowly losing her consciousness.
Drip…drip…drip…
"How…come?" Ib whispered. She was standing on nothingness, with thousands will-o-wisps surrounded her. Wasn't she supposed to be in that world? But, how come…
"Kukuku… Giving up already?"
She quickly turn around. There, he slowly walked toward her. She didn't move at all, glaring to the shadowy figure which came closer as the time went by.
"No. I'm sure I will get my rose back!"
"Ara… quite stubborn girl, are you?" she couldn't saw his face as always, but she was sure he was smirking.
"I have gone this far, there was no way to get back! Besides, I have many important things that I should do!"
"Is that so…?" He was right in front of her. In her eyes, he was nothing but a shadow. Without her realized it, his hand was already touched her face. "You maybe just fall right into my trap, ojou-chan…"
He paused. His hand was still on her face, slowly caressing her cheek. Ib could felt that he gave her a deep look.
"You… do resemble her… in many ways…"
Ib didn't know why, but when he lifted her face, looking at her, and said those words, she noticed there was a little sadness on his voice. Moreover, why she felt so nostalgic, and her heart felt like it twisted heavily. There was no way she felt this feeling to him…
Longing?
"Those eyes… So beautiful… so beautiful… so much… JUST MAKE ME WANT TO TORTURE YOU SO MUCH!"
"NOOOO!"
"Be careful Ib… You can trust… no one, yet!"
"NOOOO! LET ME GOOO!"
"IB!"
Ib suddenly opened her eyes. She was carried by someone, wedding style, and she quickly hugged him.
"Garry… I'm so scared! I…"
"Ib, it's me, Ourie! Are you all right?!"
Ib quickly release him, but she was still on his hand. Realizing that, she quickly managed to stand on her feet again.
"I'm sorry, Ourie, I'm okay. It was… just a bad dream…" she smiled weakly. "But, how about you? Do you still hurt? And how did you do to unlock the door? Ou…"
Before she finished her words, Ourie pulled her to his embrace. He hugged her tightly, so tightly that she almost couldn't breathe.
"Thanks God… Thanks God, you're alive…" his voice and body was trembling. "I thought I will never see your eyes opened again… Thinking about that… just makes me want to die, too…"
"I'm… really sorry, Ourie. I didn't mean to make you worried me…"
"It's okay, Ib, just… promise me two things."
"What is it, Ourie?"
Ourie tightened his embrace.
"Don't… you ever call his name again. It's futile… he won't be here for you. Instead, call my name, then…" he release her from his embrace, and smiled to her.
"Don't hesitate to trust me, right? You see, when I unlocked that door, this paper fell right to my hand."
At least, trust someone
"It means, I have to trust you, and you have to trust me too, Ib. Even if you didn't like it."
His bright, sweet grin made her couldn't help but smile too.
"Alright."
Hand in hand, they walked through the blue corridor.
"What… is this?" Ourie mumbled.
Two of them faced two giant carved-door. Though it was so beautiful, it gave the same eerie vibes as the rest of Guertena' artworks. The one on the left was picturing a man with tunic, with a hat like wizard' hat and a sling bag on his shoulder. The other one was picturing a king with his mighty look and majestic robe. In the wall between two of the door there was the title of them, carved in a wooden plate.
The Messenger' Duty.
"Which way we should go?" Ourie asked. Ib thought for a bit then she pointed on the king one.
"Maybe this one? Ousama is the one who we're chasing after, right?"
"Sure. Let me go first, then."
As Ourie touched the carved-stone, it quickly opened and Ourie was—somehow, pulled by the darkness behind it.
"Ib!"
Before Ib had a chance to go after him, it shut as quickly as it opened. Ib tried to push the carved-stone, but it was no use. She hit the carved-stone, calling Ourie with her loudest voice she can manage, but still, there was no answer and the carved-stone refused to open.
Ib quickly reached the other carved-stone. She touched it and she could swore there was something pulled her to enter the darkness. As the carved-stone closed, she was standing in a complete darkness.
"Ib! Are you okay?"
She could hear Ourie' worried face. She tried to look around her surrounding, but even she tried to see her own finger, she couldn't see it.
"I'm okay, Ourie! Where are you?" Ib shouted, still looking for a certain auburn-haired boy. She tried to moved her hand, but there was nothing to be touched. She tried to walk around, but Ourie' shriek stopped her.
"NO, IB! IT'S DANGEROUS!" Ourie sighed loudly, "Listen closely, Ib. I'm right on a floor right above you but I can't hear your voice. Can you see where you are now?"
Ib looked up and still see nothing. She shook her head. She moved her lip slowly, hoping Ourie could understand her words.
"I can't see anything!"
"Sorry, Ib, but I'm bad at that. Good news is, it seems that you can hear me clearly and I could see you crystal clear. Let's see…" Ourie paused for a bit, then sound of rustled paper was heard, "from this paper, you have to deliver something to the end of the… way. But it's not easy since you are practically above Abyss of the Dark with eerie shadowy hand on its surface, standing on that narrow pathway. So please move carefully as I said, okay, Ib? You have to completely trust me now."
Ib nodded, completely missed another words that Ourie mumbled.
"…as I do not want those filthy hands touch you."
Ib stood patiently for the Ourie' next word. As she could hear the sounds of him tapping a glass surface, he broke the silence, "Now, Ib, take a one step backward. Good. Then, turn around to face the wall behind you, you can touch it… Okay, move your hand along the wall to the left, there it is. You can feel something like wooden tube, right? Get it. You do it well, Ib! Now, can you turn around again and let's begin your journey…"
"Hold on, Ourie. Can I store this tube on my backpack? Just in case…"
"Sure, that's good idea, Ib."
She kneeled down and opened her backpack. After she managed to store the tube on her backpack, she listened closely and did whatever Ourie said to her—moved forward, took one step backward since she was going to fall, turned around 45 degrees to the right, squatted down since the large fish of the abyss was going to jump over her, jumped as the shadowy hand tried to trip her, she could faintly hear another sounds of… chirping. For some reason, she could clearly see the blue bird that she had encountered seven years ago, flying to her.
"Okay, Ib. We're almost there. Turn 30 degrees to the left and walk forward… wait, Ib what are you doing?"
"I followed the bird!" Ib moved her lip as she pointed to the bird, "It was helping me before!"
Somehow, Ib felt that the room was colder than before.
"So… you didn't trust me, Ib?" Ourie said in a low, threatening voice.
Ib shook her head quickly, "But, maybe we missed—"
"NO BUTS! IB! YOU SHOULD KNOW WHERE THAT BIRDS TRYING TO GET YOU AT!" Ib felt her heart skipped a beat. She didn't know Ourie could be… that angry. Before she said anything again, she could hear him…
…crying.
"Why… you don't understand, Ib?" he sobbed, "If… if something happened to you… I… I… even my death wouldn't stop my suffering…"
Ib looked above, and somehow he could see Ourie cried. It was really touching for her, who went all the way to confront Ousama without someone worrying her, except Mary.
She was really grateful. She smiled as she looked above.
"Sorry, Ourie. Let me do as your guidance. Thank you."
"I don't need your thanks, Ib, nor your apologize. For me, what matter the most is I can see you safe and completely unharmed."
Somehow, Ib felt something different of Ourie' tone. It wasn't as childish as before. He sounded so mature, so reliable… but not only that. There was something…intriguing about his voice now she couldn't see him.
Responding the bird that chirped furiously as she went to other direction, Ib squatted and faced the bird with an apologetic smile.
"Sorry, Kotori-chan. I have to go the other way. Please send my apologize to your family."
The bird stop chirping, but it keeps looked… worried. It then decided to leave her alone, flying as fast as it could.
"Guess it's really angry… I'm sorry." Ib sighed. She took a step to end her journey.
In the end of the pathway, she could see a faint light. Ib walked to it as fast as her leg could be since she knew that she was short of time. As she arrived in a blue, dim-lighted corridor, she let a sigh of relief. Thanks to Ourie she could make it there without a single scratch. She walked toward the blue door in the end of the tunnel, turned the doorknob…
"IB!"
Ourie practically ran into her and suffocated her by a tight embrace. Ib hit Ourie' back furiously as she could feel her heart thumping so loud. He finally loosen his embrace, then placed both of his cold hand on her cheeks.
"Are you hurt?"
"Of course not. Thanks to certain someone," Ib responded sharply, but then she smiled, "Thank you, Ourie."
Ourie smiled back at her. Noticing something weird on his eyes, Ib quickly pushed him softly. She opened her backpack and pulled the wooden tube out, then looked around to see what she should do with it.
"No—now, what should we do with this, Ourie?" She wandered around and looked at the familiar artworks of Guertena. There were Coughing Man, Flowers of Jealousy, Mistake, Uh and Ah statues, Selfless Guard…
"Abstract Art…" Ib mumbled. She could sense Ourie was on her back.
"Huh, sure, it is abstract."
"I mean, the title of this painting is Abstract Art," Ib smiled slightly. That painting was nostalgic for her, "Back then I couldn't read the kanji, but then Garry—"
Before Ib finished her words, she was pushed to the wall. Ourie pinned her, a crocked smile brushed on his face. His hands gripped Ib' shoulder firmly, making her unconsciously dropping the wooden tube.
"Stop… STOP SAYING HIS NAME WITH SUCH FACE!"
Ib looked at him, terrified. She tried to release herself but his grip was unbelievably strong. She tried to punch him, but before she had a chance to lift her hand, vines crept up from the wall and floor, tied her hands and legs, made her unable to move. She then remembered there was a painting of Flowers of Jealousy on this room.
"O…Ourie…stop…" Ib squeaked. He looked like a mad man obsessed by something, by her. Though he was there all the time in this journey, it couldn't be that easy to make him as Garry' replacement.
For Ib, both Garry and Ourie are her precious friends. The same went to Mary, some of the artworks, Maya, and—of course, all the members of Art Club. But the one that she love the most was him…
… the one who bother to read and explain all the artworks of Guertena when she still couldn't read bunch of kanji letters. The one who cheered her up when her parents become one of the painting. The one who gave her a soothing lemon candy. The one who worried constantly about her well-being. The one who accompanied her through the fabricated world and pulled her off the nightmare when she almost trapped by it.
How could such important being as him be forgotten? Ib would rather gave all the knowledge she had if she ever forgot him, to remember him always…
"Ourie… please… listen, you are… important for me, too," Ib said in a hoarse voice, as she felt all the energy she had slowly been depleted by the tight bind of the vines, "I'm really… grateful you're here…"
She could feel Ourie' grip loosen a bit, so the vines bind. Slowly, Ib moved her hand and touched Ourie' cheeks with both of her hands, smiled sincerely to him. Ourie looked like his old self, with those lavender colored orbs stared warmly at her eyes. As Ib let a sigh of relief, suddenly his grip and the vines bind became tight again, this time there were some vines tied on her neck, made her suffocated.
"That's really sweet of you, Ib. But that's not enough for me. You are the only one that special to me, so I must be the only one who matter the most for you, Ib," he whispered closely to her ear. "Now, be a good girl and stay still. It won't be painful, I promise."
As Ib helplessly closed her eyes, she could somehow feel something warm before her. She then slowly opened her eyes, and she could feel Ourie' grip and vines bind no longer. Some of charcoal sticky men stood between her and Ourie, making a barrier between her and him.
"Quick, Ib! Run into that corridor!" Ib could hear Mary' voice in her mind. She quickly ran to the other side of the room, where a dim-lighted blue corridor appeared out of nowhere.
"Mary! Where are you?" Not only she could hear Mary, Ib also could sense that she was near.
"Don't worry, we'll be meet soon!" though, Ib could hear a worried tone on her childish voice, "Remember, break ALL the things that you see in that room!"
With that, she felt all the connection with Mary broke. Keeping Mary' words in her mind, Ib kept running to the end of corridor to see…
…bunch of an auburn-haired, black-mantled wooden statue of a boy. Those are practically everywhere and there was one largest statue of him—probably seven feet in height, holding a violet-colored rose. The name plate was on the base of the statue.
"Ourie…"
"Yes, this is the truth, Ib. I'm merely one of Ousama' child. So the only way to make us together is…" he lift his hand which hold a red rose, "…THIS!"
As Ourie gripped the stem of the rose tightly, Ib fell into her knees. Ourie smirked as he gently touched the petals of her rose. Ib slowly tried to stand, her fist clenched in anger.
"Well, stop being stubborn, Ib, or else…"
As Ourie plucked one of the petal, Ib gripped her upper arm firmly. But she still tried to walk to one of the wooden statue, stood before it and giving Ourie a sharp glance.
"No, Ib… You won't dare…"
As Ib broke the wooden statue with her bare hand, Ourie plucked all the petals of the rose. Ib just smirked, made Ourie confused and mad.
"What—how—"
"A fake rose always come in handy," Ib said with a confident smile. Mary' training really taught her several things. As Ourie still didn't do anything because of the shock, Ib ran toward the statues, breaking it one by one by her bare hands or her kick. There were so many of them, until…
"ARRGH!"
Ib could hear Ourie' scream in pain as she kicked the second-last wooden statue. Ib could see him on his knees, gripping his chest tightly. His breath was uneven, and his body trembled. There was a pang of pain on her chest. After all, he was… her precious friend.
As she crouched down before his fragile figure and grip his shoulder, in a mere second she was laying on the floor, with Ourie laughed manically on top of her. His hand gripped firmly on her throat.
"Poor, poor Ib. As long as that big statue untouched, I still can fight against you," Ourie smirked, "Since you are naughty, I will make sure you feel all the pain. The same pain that I felt everytime you called his name…"
"No..." Ib whispered in her mind. She couldn't fight back as some wood crept on her hands and legs, bind her tightly, slowly sucked all the energy she had. Is this really the end?
"I… don't want this…" Ib thought, "There are so many things I want to do… I want to see Mary, I want to meet my parents and Maya again. I want to go to picnic again with Art Club members, I want to… meet him…"
"So, Ib, what's your last wish?"
It was so hard even to open her mouth. But she wanted to say it for the last time. She wanted to call him for the last time.
"Ga…rry…"
With that, she could feel a suffocating pain on her whole body... with a scent of lemon lingered near as her last glimpse of her memory.
(A/N) Wow, how many years I've abandoned this story? two-nah maybe three years. I send my deepest apologize to this story readers, reviewers, followers, and favoriters (what's this? welp) who have waited so long. I have no intention to discontinue this story, because I really love Ib and Garry. The truths are : college's suck, I have to do my final assignment, and I really don't know what to write in this chapter since I have no idea what game I should give to Ib this time. But finally, after watching some AMV of Ib and replaying the game again, I have something in my mind. Hope you all like it.
And one more thing I should ask for your apologize is, sorry for the bad english/misused vocabulary/mistypo. It's been a while since I wrote something in english.
But, after I replayed the game and read some of the canon theory, I would like to tell you guys that some part of this story maybe didn't follow the cannon theory. For example, Garry' age when he met Ib should be 20 but I changed it to 17. And some history of Guertena' artwork would be based of my theory. So, please be warned and I won't explain if someone ask why it isn't same as the theory, because I have my own (due to my foolishness, and drama-filter on my brain) theory. Since rebuild this story is impossible for me, please bear with it (_ _)
As always I wanted to thank the latest chapter reviewers : orphanaccount (thanks for reviewing from the first chapter XD), DarkInsanitySoul, xXTrianeraXx, Korra8814, , Danyella, Qyresh, Guest, Mocca-Marocchi (makasih loh udah repot-repot baca *terharu - sorry this is my mother language), SomeoneBehindTheShadows, J.S.H.N. Girls, deleteduser00000, Kurogitsune Yue, Cure-chan, all the readers, followers, and favoriters. 73 reviews, 67 favorites, and 94 followers Welcome to the angsty ship!
I have replied all your reviews, please check PM/the bottom of this page if you are a guest!
I'll post the continuation in next week, and Garry will be the main character of next chapter. See you! XD
And since the guess couldn't be notified when the latest chapter was out, please ask for notification just by adding my Skype mizumori_fumaira (dont forget to introduce yourself as the reader of this story!)
Review Replies
Korra8814 : Thank you! I'm glad you like it. Though I'm not confident this is the best
Danyella : You're lucky to read it as how many it is. I stumbled on review blocks too, Daniella XD. Thank you for your compliment, hope you like this chapter.
Guest : Thank you, I love you too!